---
title: "Has my nightmare come to pass… are these thrips?! Any other ideas? My…"
description: "Has my nightmare come to pass… are these thrips?! Any other ideas? My umbrella tree has been leaving some ~sticky sap~ on the table, which I know is a warning…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/aWNL0MTvswQ80RysPcZLmR"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "meg"
published: "2026-10-18T15:29:18.666959Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1eifUcixvAEdaWZX_rLsa7HeFO8_EcBAV4qslWz4Inc/KM_Y52g-TgGHVFLv2Lq3kw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# Has my nightmare come to pass… are these thrips?! Any other ideas? My…

_Posted by meg on 2026-10-18_

Has my nightmare come to pass… are these thrips?! Any other ideas?

My umbrella tree has been leaving some ~sticky sap~ on the table, which I know is a warning sign, so I’ve been monitoring closely and finally saw this damage.

Anyone had a similar presentation? Recommendations?

![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1eifUcixvAEdaWZX_rLsa7HeFO8_EcBAV4qslWz4Inc/KM_Y52g-TgGHVFLv2Lq3kw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1eifUcixvAEdaWZX_rLsa7HeFO8_EcBAV4qslWz4Inc/eoSXfHkqQOuTP-FUk2nsGQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1eifUcixvAEdaWZX_rLsa7HeFO8_EcBAV4qslWz4Inc/EDETKxtISPy9HGjYCfVKjg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1eifUcixvAEdaWZX_rLsa7HeFO8_EcBAV4qslWz4Inc/mM_8TOWiRxKCV2MWgX8w-g.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### GreenIvy commented on 2026-10-18

Thrips leave behind sticky black droppings, if those black spots I see in the pics smear when rubbed, I’d say it’s thrips. Thrips u can see with naked eye crawling. The adults are long skinny and black, the younger ones are white/clear. Google images of them. In my experience the only thing that gets rid of them is treatments with spinosad in it.

### GreenIvy commented on 2026-10-18

Sometimes edema or overwatering can leave behind black spots, but they do not smear when rubbed or scratched

### Karzdan commented on 2026-10-18

Those are thrips. The lighter patches on the leaves is from them feasting.

### GreenLeaf commented on 2026-10-18

Absolutely thrips.

Remove all affected leaves, use a strong pesticide for the foliage and also use a soil treatment. I use diatomaceous earth and coat the whole top of the soil. Continue to spray every 5-7 days for at least 21 days. If you see a mature adult, go back to day one and continue to spray.  
Thrips lay eggs in the leaves, which protects them from the pesticide. They’ll drop into the soil, mature, and come back onto the plant. This is why you need to make sure you have a soil treatment as well, otherwise you’re just chasing your tail.

Thrips also spread quickly. If you have other plants in the near vicinity, I would treat them all to ensure you eradicate them.

### JR commented on 2026-10-18

Brown spot in your second pic looks like scale?  
Use a qtip soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol and see if you can remove the whole thing.

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